Game Thread: Reds at Astronomicals (2013.09.18)

The Reds have dominated and completely beat down the Houston Astros in the first 2 games of this series. The Reds need to do the same thing tonight to close this series out before heading to Pittsburgh for a pivotal 3 game series. Not only does a win tonight keep the Reds within distance to take over the 1st wild card spot, but it also helps eliminate the thought that Washington is going to catch the Reds for that 2nd wild card spot.

This inning is the epitome of the season. I’m still too stunned with the BP/Votto carnage to properly evaluate the reasons for first leaving Hoover in and now bringing in Duke to face a RH hitter, arguably their hottest hitter…..and immediately after Duke lost a game due to a RH. AMAZING BRUCE CATCH saves the game momentarily.

@prjeter: did you forget that bunting reduces your chances of winning?that includes the fact that many bunts are unsuccessful, like this one.cheating or not, the bunting call is idiotic and continues to screw this team at the most important of times.

MOST important game of the year and Baker lets Ondrusek throw 30 pitches and uses Zack Duke in the 9th inning in a tie game. Duke with his 2nd walk off loss, wow. Baker needs to go, he has cost this team prob 15 games with putrid management.

Their play in the top of the 9th inning show why this team isn’t going any-where. BP knew he was out of the baseline by a mile -as he’s the same player that ruined it for the Reds and Homer Bailey by his STUPID base-running in the fist inning of game #3 of last year’s playoffs. And Joey swinging at the first pitch and not allowing Hamilton to steal 3B is a joke. This team has major talent but is not fundamentally sound.

I’m currently watching the scene from Moneyball where Billy Beane is instructing his team never to bunt. Seems so fitting for the current moment. I wish I could implant this scene in a neverending reel into Baker’s head.